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EDITORIAL
A CALL TO ALL ARTISTS & CULTURAL WORKERS.....
"Fighting Fascism With Music, Art and CULTURE!
Begins with Knowing the Truth and Having Empathy"
The International Court of Justice demanded that for all intents and purposes Israel is required to stop its assault on Gaza: “Israel must,” the ICJ stated, “take all measures in its power to prevent the commission of all acts within the scope of Article II of this [Genocide] Convention, in particular: (a) killing members of the group [i.e., Palestinians in Gaza].” See The Intercept; Will the U.S. Block the ICJ on Gaza? It’s Thwarted the Court Before. (Jan. 30, 2024)
The artists and cultural workers have a mission! The truth is that the U.S. is currently blocking the ICJ and will continue. As the current dynamic of events are unfolding, the genocide is proceeding. But what next? What is the role of cultural artists, singers, and cultural activists? The two 2024 internet clips below provide a depth of information and source for grounding all of us in both truth and empathy to inspire us for the work ahead. One speaker is a “white” man, U.S.-born Presbyterian minister, and journalist, and the other a “white” U.S.-born Jew, political scientist, activist, and organic intellectual:
- Chris Hedges "The Death of Israel: How a Settler Colonial State Destroyed Itself"
- LIVE: Dr Norman Finkelstein on his comments on ICJ
I eschew religiosity and race reductionism. I basically stormed out of the Church. I also realize that many of humankind who draw lines on a map or who seek to do so need a “new Enlightenment.” I still retain my love for some Spirituals. Interpret the following one as you will. It keeps my sanity and dries my tears. Just listen:
Stevie Wonder - You Will Know - LIVE London Part 7
We know what we must do.
Ajamu Sankofa, J.D.
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International Working Women Month is here!
"WE ARE THE ONES WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR SISTERS &
WE WILL NOT FAIL OUR ANCESTORS, OUR CHILDREN NOR OURSELVES!"
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Do You Know Who These Courageous SIStars Are?
- Who Are the (Past and Present) GREAT BLACK (African Descendent) Women In Your Community, City, Country, or Continent?
- How Are Their Missions, Accomplishments, Historical Information, etc. Being Taught and Furthered.
- How Do We HONOR Them and Assure That The Next Generation(s) Are Empowered, Humbled, and Blessed Accordingly
WELL, WE KNOW WHAT TO DO & WILL MAKE SURE IT GETS DONE NOW!
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Thursday, March 7 at 6:00 PM
JOIN US FOR PLANNING TO CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH 2024
WITH A DAY & EVENING OF MUSIC ART POETRY, and
GOOD NEWS INSPIRING SPEAKERS!
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HAPPY 25th BIRTHDAY & JUNETEENTH LOVE-A-THON for The Fruit of Labor World Cultural Center featuring a seafood/chicken/veggies feast (a social justice benefit).
Celebration plan with Live Music, inspiring art & poetry, and community speakers bringing some GOOD NEWS! We are planning for a wonderful day of family celebration, reflection, games, prizes, and fun.
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FOLWCC Rentals
Need a special place for your special event?
The newly renovated Fruit of Labor World Cultural Center and the World Cultural Café are your place. The 2,000 sq. ft. World Cultural Center, with a big screen and surround sound theater, is the ideal intimate setting for:
- Graduation Parties & Game Nights
- Organizational & Business Meetings
- Classes, Seminars & Workshops
- Conferences
- Religious & Family Gatherings/ Reunions
- Bridal & Baby Showers
- Movie Screenings
- Receptions
- Gatherings for Watching Sports and Other Events
- Art Shows
- Small Concerts & Fundraisers
Rental form on website
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MARCH 2024 CALENDAR OF EVENTS | |
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Saturday, March 2; Mass Poor Peoples March and Low Wage Workers’ Moral March to State House Assemblies; Labor, BWFJ, UE150, SWA, Raleigh Peoples Budget Coalition, and the NC People's Power Coalition folks are all invited to meet up at the South East corner of the State Capitol grounds at the corner of Morgan St and Wilmington Street and march together on Sat. March 2. We are meeting up at 9:45 AM that morning.
Saturday, March 2; 10:00 AM-1:00 PM; Quilting Classes at the FOLWCC. The first class will be from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM; all other classes will be from 10:00 AM-1:00 PM; January 27; February 3 and 17; and March 2 and 16, 2024. Classes will be taught by an experienced quilter, Cynthia Hayes. This class series is closed, but contact her at chayes10@gmail.com for information about future quilting series.
Tuesday, March 5; North Carolina Election Primary; Don’t Forget to Go Out to VOTE! Your voice & vote count! Go to www.ncsbe.gov to research information on voter ID requirements, voter search, how to register, upcoming elections, early voting schedules, judicial voter guide, etc. You can also contact your county’s board of election for information.
Thursday, March 7; 5:00-7:00 PM; Prevent Diabetes Culinary Program Series; presented by Eatwell Exchange at FOLWCC. This series includes both classroom and cooking instruction; 1/8, 2/1, 2/15, 2/29, 3/21, 3/28, 5/23; cooking instruction – 1/25, 2/8, 2/22, 3/7, 3/21; 6/20 graduation (classroom & cooking) taught by registered dietician, Jasmine Westbrooks; contact Jasmine@eatwellexchange.org for more info.
Saturday, March 9; 10:00 AM-2:00 PM; International Women’s Day 2024 (A Woman Only Event); at Unitarian Universalist Church 131 Oakmont Dr., Greenville, NC. Sponsored by the Black Workers for Justice Women’s Working Group. Featuring: panel discussions with presentations from a Palestine representative, Refund Raleigh, BWFJ, and Movement 4 Black Lives, as well as educational sessions about What to do about U.S. Elections & the need and push for a Cease-Fire in Palestine. There will be a light lunch, music, sisterhood, solidarity, and provided childcare. This event will be in-person and virtual. Register in advance at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYvc-qrszloHtCY47yyZjq8N8vzUR11c09M. For more information, email info@bwfj.org or call (252) 640-0944 or (919) 273-2735.
Saturday, March 16; 10:00 AM-1:00 PM; Quilting Classes at the FOLWCC
Saturday, March 16; 10:00 AM-12:00 PM; Raleigh Peoples Budget Coalition Meeting; place TBD. For additional information and to send any updates or reports from your organization, please email Nique at raleighpeoplesbudget@gmail.com or call (919) 278-7245.
Sunday, March 17; 4:00-8:00 PM; Only on Sunday Jazz Sessions at FOLWC; Live music featuring the band- Jazz Builds the 919; $15pp or 4 for $40; Music, Food, Vendors, Good News and Fun; to RSVP or for vendor information registration & attendance call Nathanette at (919) 876-7187 or email fruitoflaborwcc@netscape.com. A social justice FUNdraiser. Tickets may be purchased in advance on Eventbrite.com or at the door.
Thursday, March 21; 6:00-8:00 PM; Prevent Diabetes Culinary Program Series; presented by Eatwell Exchange at FOLWCC
Saturday, March 23; 10:00-11:00 AM; FOLWCC Community Fitness Class for all levels: Paradise Yoga Reggae & Afrobeat Vibez taught by master instructor Donnae Ward; Bring your mat if you have one - we have a few available if you don’t. Register at Eventbrite: Free Community Health & Fitness or RSVP by calling (919) 876-7187. Email Nathanette at nlmayo5@yahoo.com for more information. Classes are free, but a donation will help ensure this community program can continue throughout the year.
Saturday, March 23; 11:30 AM-12:30 PM; FOLWCC Community Solidarity Gardening Club meeting to plan for our 2024 garden. RSVP if you're interested in being part of the club to (919) 876-7187.
Saturday, March 30; 6:00-10:00 PM; Celebrating Women’s History Month and Women Holding Up Half the Sky with an evening of Live R&B at FOLWCC; Live music featuring area outstanding women vocalists; $20 donation; Music, Food, Vendors, Good News & Fun; to RSVP or for vendor information registration & attendance call Nathanette at (919) 876-7187 or email fruitoflaborwcc@netscape.com. A social justice FUNdraiser brought to you by FOLWCC & Broken Wings Music Group. Tickets may be purchased in advance on Eventbrite.com or at the door. RSVP (919) 876-7187.
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WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THESE PICTURES? | |
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Planning for the Fruit of Labor Community Solidarity Garden Begins
Interested experienced and beginning gardeners are invited to come and help with the planning and layout of this year’s community solidarity garden. This will be our 3rd year of growing our community garden and offering food preparation, preservation, and nutrition classes at the Fruit of Labor World Cultural Center!
The corporate food industry, its lobbyists and agent politicians, and its media's miseducation of communities are responsible for our people’s poor health, lack of universal health care, and lack of cooperative ownership of land and how we produce what we need to live healthy quality lives. Many big capitalist corporations of the food industry produce unhealthy adulterated food with unnaturally long shelf lives solely as profit-making commodities!
Our garden is solidarity in action and a social justice understanding about access to affordable quality food and safe clean water in our communities. We hope you join us in working in and nurturing our needed COMMUNITY SOLIDARITY GARDEN and its mission.
Come out to our planning meeting on Saturday, March 23rd at 11:30 AM-12:30 PM. Call (919) 876-7187 or email Nathanette Mayo at nlmayo5@yahoo.com if you have questions are interested, and plan to attend.
Photos from our 2022 & 2023 Community Solidarity Gardens
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Dear musicians, singers, visual artists, poets, songwriters, audio/visual technicians, filmmakers, and socially conscious cultural worker activists.
We are looking for motivated cultural individuals who are eager to share their interests, skills, and talents and learn from seasoned cultural artists. The decades-old activist band "FRUIT OF LABOR SINGING ENSEMBLE"/FOL SE, the 25-year-old "FRUIT OF LABOR WORLD CULTURAL CENTER" /FOL WCC, and the renowned "BROKEN WINGS MUSIC GROUP" STUDIO/ PRODUCTIONS /BWMG have contributed to... creating a vibrant social justice movement and a "social justice movement building" Cultural Center!
We use music, art, poetry, film, book clubs, and more to build and drive organizations, labor unions, human rights movements, and workplace/community empowerment toward fundamental change in our local, regional, and national communities.
We want YOU to join us!
- Application by email, call, or letter deadline is March 15th!
Key Internship Details:
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Start Date: May 2024 (12 week internship)
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Compensation: $20 per hour, Bi-weekly or monthly stipend
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Location: FRUIT OF LABOR WORLD CULTURAL CENTER in Raleigh, BWMG Studio/production site, Remote work from home, with occasional in-person staff events and travel across the U.S.
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Equipment: Vehicle, accessible to public transportation, and we will provide a desktop or laptop computer and accessories, or interns can choose to use their computer. Interns need reliable Internet access that allows for regular participation in video meetings.
Please let us know your interests and contact us with any questions you may have. We are grateful for the FOL WCC team of people over the past 25 years who are voluntarily working to align our creative community cultural artists, activists, and tech folks with serving our working-class community's interest...as WE COLLECTIVELY are nurturing many community-based organizations' capacity to advance our vision of a stronger community and better world!
Email us at fruitoflaborwcc@netscape.com or call the office and leave your phone number and a message at (919) 876-7187.
INSPIRING, ENGAGING, EDUCATING AND LIBERATING
FRUIT OF LABOR WORLD CULTURAL CENTER
All-Volunteer TEAM
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Build a House by Rhiannon Giddens | |
Here's an educational song and book worth checking out. There are a couple of other new ones out with raw truth. Go to rhiannongiddens.com/build-a-house to order the book. | | | | |
